Nash refused to accept a deal to Ottawa and the Blue Jackets subsequently acquired Foligno.

Garrioch writes that the Blue Jackets accepted the Rangers package of Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon and a first round pick because “didn’t want this to drag on any longer.”

He also notes that Scott Howson didn’t want to trade Nash to another Western Conference team and that center Joe Pavelski was a player that the Blue Jackets could have had.

Adam Rotter: To me, Howson got two good players who will help his team this coming season and a very good young defenseman in Tim Erixon. It wasn’t the “home run” he wanted to hit, which is why the media killed him, but its’ a good enough haul for a player who wanted out. Pavelski would have been a better get for them, but the idea of Columbus not wanting to keep him out West adds to the belief that the only way the Sharks were going to get Nash was if they moved Logan Couture. Same situation with the Red Wings, a division rival who made a “hell of an offer.” Howson had to hit a home run and get young stars if he had to see Nash four or six times a season.